Groups to celebrate, honor veterans

Veterans Day was established as Armistice Day on Nov. 11, 1918, to commemorate the end of World War I. In 1954, it was renamed Veterans Day to honor the veterans of both world wars. Now, all vets are recognized on Veterans Day. A number of local groups and organizations are holding special Veterans Day events this weekend and Monday. Listed below are those that were submitted to the Times-Standard for inclusion in this special preview:

* TODAY

Veteran Resource Center

EUREKA -- College of the Redwoods will dedicate a new Veteran Resource Center at

11 a.m. today with several CR student veterans taking part in the ceremony. Also participating will be CR Veterans Coordinator Specialist Crystal Morse and CR President Kathy Smith, who will deliver remarks.

A permanent plaque will be unveiled and a reception will be held following the ceremony. Refreshments will be served, including a cake made by the daughter of a World War II veteran, as part of the festivities.

The new Veteran Resource Center is located between the CR Bookstore and Dining Services.

* FRIDAY

'Flag of Thanks'

EUREKA -- In honor of Veteran's Day and the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War, Wal-Mart will make a special presentation of a "Flag of Thanks" at 1 p.m. Friday to honor the nation's heroes at the Redwood Veterans Center, 2830 G St.

* SUNDAY

Rotary Club program

EUREKA -- The Rotary Club of Southwest Eureka will present its annual Veterans Day program on Sunday at the Adorni Center, 1011 Waterfront Drive.

"Each year our club presents a program that honors American servicemen and women," said event organizer Stu Russell. "It is our privilege to recognize the extraordinary commitment of those who have served and who are currently serving in the military."

The featured speaker for this year's observance, which honors veterans of all branches of the United States armed forces, will be Gen. Albert C. Zapanta.

"Our theme this year is 'Citizen Patriots.' Gen. Zapanta is a sterling example of those who provide exemplary service to our country," said Russell. "His distinguished military career preceded a remarkable career in civilian service."

Zapanta's military record and awards include the Silver Star, five Bronze Stars for Valor, the Purple Heart and 30 other awards earned during the Vietnam War, where he served as a ranger commander.

After retiring as a U.S. Army brigadier general, Zapanta began his post-military career as an industrial engineer for Bethlehem Steel before joining Arco, where he served as director of governmental affairs.

During that period, he was responsible for negotiations with Petroleos Mexicanos on oil and gas matters and copper mines. He was the company's representative to local, state and federal governments on oil and gas legislation, environmental regulation, transportation-related issues (pipelines, ocean tankers, tanker trucks and rail tank cars) and public affairs.

Zapanta has held numerous presidential appointments, including White House fellow in 1973-74 and assistant secretary of the interior for management and administration from 1976-77. He has served as chairman of Infrastructure Studies on Urban Mass Transit, Rail Transportation, the Airport Airways Study, the Water Conservation Initiative, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Fraud Review and the Teton Dam Disaster Audit, and was the representative to the National Visitor Center Intermodal Station in Washington, D.C.

President Ronald Reagan appointed Zapanta to the U.S. State Department Advisory Committee on International Trade Technology and Development from 1981-1987. President George W. Bush named him private sector delegate to the U.S.-Mexico Partnership for Prosperity from 2001 to the present.

He was the first U.S. senior officer to lead a peacekeeping mission to the United Nations Referendum on the Western Sahara to serve with the then-U.S.S.R., People's Republic of China, French and British military officers as chief of staff.

He was recently awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal for Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Restore Hope in Somalia and Restore Democracy in Haiti. He served as chairman of the Reserve Forces Policy Board from 2002-2004, during which he also served as president/CEO of the U.S.-Mexico Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C.

A variety of organizations and individuals will also lend their talents and skills to this year's program, including the Eureka High School Jazz Ensemble, Eureka High School Limited Edition, Humboldt Harmonaires, members of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, who will provide refreshments after the program, and representatives of the NJROTC, who will present the colors.

Veterans are encouraged to wear their service medals to the event.

The Adorni Center is located at 1011 Waterfront Drive in Eureka. The program begins at 11 a.m. and is free. For more information, call 443-5254.

Veterans Day at the zoo

EUREKA -- Community members of all ages are invited to enjoy a free day of fun on Veterans Day at the Sequoia Park Zoo sponsored by Lost Coast Communications. Zoo hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

"We're delighted that Lost Coast Communications is honoring our veterans and the community at large with their sponsorship of this last free day of the year," said Zoo Foundation President Chuck Dominick. "We look forward to another strong program of sponsored free days at the zoo in 2013."

The zoo will also be celebrating International Red Panda Day on Sunday, with red panda-themed activities (see the "Happenings" column on Page B2 for details). Sequoia Park Zoo is located at 3414 W St. in Eureka. For more information, visit www.sequoiaparkzoo.net.

Motorcycle ride

ARCATA -- United Bikers of Northern California will hold its annual Veterans Day Ride on Sunday. The group will meet at the Arcata Veterans Memorial Building at 1425 J St. in Arcata between 8 and 10 a.m. for coffee and doughnuts, and will depart at the noon whistle for the ride to Ocean View Cemetery/Sunset Memorial Park, 3975 Broadway in Eureka, where there will be a brief ceremony. Following that, the group will proceed to a get-together at the Eureka Veterans Memorial Building, 1020 H St.

'Salute to Veterans'

FORTUNA -- Fortuna Senior Services will hold its annual "Salute to Veterans" on Sunday. The free program begins at 2 p.m. at the Fortuna Veterans Memorial Building, 1426 Main St. Doors will open at 1:30 p.m.

Rick Center, a veteran of submarine service during the Cold War, will be the featured speaker and will speak primarily about submarine service during World War II, a subject he has researched by reading more than 200 books and conducting interviews at national conventions of submarine personnel. Center was a pharmacist in Fortuna until his retirement a few years ago. He grew up in Crescent City and is a graduate of Del Norte High School.

Also included in this year's program will be a musical salute by Fortuna soloist Mike Gibbs and a sing-along led by Betty Diehl, director of the Ferndale Community Choir. The ceremonies will open with the presentation of colors by the Veterans Honor Guard. Fortuna businessman Don Brown will serve as the master of ceremonies. Musician and teacher Sherry Hanson will perform "The Navy Hymn" on the viola.

Following the program, refreshments will be provided by the Eel River Valley chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and Don Hicks and Richard Philipsen will play music for dancing.

Members of Fortuna Senior Services will sell drawing tickets for prizes that have been donated by Ferndale Meat Market, Ivanhoe Restaurant, Renner Petroleum and Corbett Critters Topiary Design.

Fortuna Senior Services is a nonprofit organization formed in 2003. For more information, see www.fortunasenior.org or call 726-9203.

* MONDAY

'A Musical, Artistic Tribute'

EUREKA -- The community is invited to observe Veterans Day by listening to music and viewing more than 100 portraits of World War II veterans projected on a giant screen, Monday at the Arkley Center for the Performing Arts, 412 G St. The event starts at 5:30 p.m. and is wheelchair accessible.

The Eureka Symphony will present "A Musical and Artistic Tribute to Our WWII Veterans" with patriotic music being performed while Trinidad artist Kathrin Burleson's portraits of WWII veterans are projected on the screen. Music will include "Our Town" by Aaron Copland and other pieces.

Admission to the concert is free for WWII veterans and their spouses. Other tickets are $12 for adults and $5 for children. A reception following the performance will be hosted by Redwood Capital Bank.

Most of the portraits are of veterans who have gone to see the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C., sponsored by North Coast Honor Flight, a local nonprofit that arranges for veterans to take this trip at no charge, escorted by guardians who pay their own way.

Three separate flights have taken nearly 170 local veterans on the trip so far, and the next flight is scheduled in April (call Gregg Gardiner for more information at 834-9595).

Burleson, one of the founders of North Coast Honor Flight, has set herself the goal of drawing a portrait of each veteran who has made the trip, as well as other local WWII veterans.

Some of these portraits will also be featured in upcoming editions of the Times-Standard, and in a show of the complete collection at the Morris Graves Museum of Art in Eureka in September 2013.

For more information about the concert, to buy tickets or to make reservations for WWII veterans and spouses, call the Arkley Center box office at 442-1953. To see more of Burleson's portraits, visit www.VeteranPortraits.blogspot.com.

Free military meal

EUREKA, McKINLEYVILLE -- Denny's restaurants nationwide are giving back to America's heroes by offering free, "all you can eat" pancakes to active, inactive and retired military personnel on Monday. Denny's local restaurants are located at 136 Fifth St. in Eureka and 1500 Anna Sparks Way in McKinleyville.

From 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, diners with a valid military ID card will receive free pancakes (beverage not included). These all-American favorites can be enjoyed alone or as an addition to any meal.

Denny's Vice President of Marketing John Dillon said Denny's offers this free meal as a show of appreciation "for our country's veterans ... We're forever grateful for all that our heroes have done and are continuing to do, and hope that they will join us and enjoy a delicious meal to mark this special holiday."

For more information or to find other locations, visit www.dennys.com.

Senior Centers events

The Humboldt Senior Resource Center Dining Sites will honor those who served in war and peace time with a special meal at the sites in Eureka, Fortuna and Arcata on Monday.

At the Eureka Dining Site, 1910 California St., the program will begin at 11 a.m. with the Mad River Community Veterans Honor Guard, who will play taps and demonstrate the flag folding ceremony that is performed at gravesites of veterans.

Pianist Chuck Hytken will lead patriotic singing, and diners are invited to view photos of the flag folding ritual along with photos of seniors and loved ones who have served in the armed forces.

A luncheon of meat loaf, red potatoes, confetti coleslaw, whole wheat roll and "Red, White and Blue Dessert" will be served at 11:30 a.m. Make reservations if you would like to attend, by calling Susan in Eureka at 442-1181, Christine in Arcata at 825-2027 or Launa in Fortuna at 725-6245.

Veterans Service Office

The Humboldt County Veterans Service Office will celebrate Veterans Day along with the nation, and wants to remind veterans who live here about the services available to them through the office.

There are about 12,000 vets in Humboldt County. The Veterans Service Office, a program of the Department of Health and Human Services, is available to any veteran.

Veterans Service Officer Rena Maveety, a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, has headed up the office for more than four years. Among other things, Maveety and two other staff members can help with compensation claims, survivors' benefits, requests for military records, home loans and medical and education benefits.

In October, the office recorded almost 1,600 contacts with clients via email, phone or in person. Most of the business is done in the Eureka office, but staff travel periodically to Orleans and Redway to meet with veterans.

"We help veterans, their dependents and survivors get the help they deserve for serving their country," Maveety said. "Sometimes dealing with the Veterans Administration can be daunting and we're here to help vets work through the system."

Maveety and her crew also track legislation that affects vets. For example, two Senate bills were recently passed that allow reduced fees for sport fishing and hunting licenses for active service members. Another recent law allows vets who were certified truck drivers in the military to convert that certification into a truck driving license when they return to civilian life.

"Many of our vets in Humboldt County will have a special interest in those new laws," Maveety said.

Maveety and her staff encourage veterans and the public to attend Veterans Day activities throughout the county. Events are usually planned through the veterans halls. In addition, Maveety says several restaurants and other businesses offer discounts to veterans when they show their military identification.

The Veterans Service Office staff is available to give presentations on how to access veterans' benefits.

For more information, contact the Veterans Service Office at the Humboldt County Courthouse, 825 Fifth St., Eureka, or call 445-7611.